Prophet Ismail (AS) - The Sacrifice
Learn about Prophet Ismail (AS), his patience, and his role in rebuilding the Ka'bah.
Prophet Ismail (peace be upon him) was the son of Prophet Ibrahim (AS) and Hajar. When Ismail was a baby, Allah commanded Ibrahim to leave Hajar and Ismail in the valley of Makkah. Hajar ran between the hills of Safa and Marwa searching for water. Allah sent the angel Jibril who struck the ground, and water gushed forth — this is the well of Zamzam, which still flows today. Years later, Allah tested Ibrahim with a dream commanding him to sacrifice his son. Ibrahim told Ismail, and Ismail said: 'O my father, do as you are commanded.' Both father and son submitted to Allah. But as Ibrahim was about to sacrifice, Allah replaced Ismail with a ram. This event is remembered every Eid al-Adha. Later, Ibrahim and Ismail rebuilt the Ka'bah in Makkah. Ismail is also known for being the first to ride a horse, and he was an excellent archer.
Qur'an Verses
فَلَمَّا بَلَغَ مَعَهُ السَّعْيَ قَالَ يَا بَنِيَّ إِنِّي أَرَىٰ فِي الْمَنَامِ أَنِّي أَذْبَحُكَ
Falamma balagha ma'ahu as-sa'ya qala ya bunayya inni ara fi al-manami anni adhbahuk
Translation: And when he reached with him [the age of] exertion, he said, 'O my son, indeed I have seen in a dream that I must sacrifice you.'
قَالَ يَا أَبَتِ افْعَلْ مَا تُؤْمَرُ
Qala ya abati if'al ma tu'mar
Translation: He said, 'O my father, do as you are commanded.'
Authentic Hadith
The Prophet ﷺ said: 'I am the son of the two sacrificed ones' — referring to his father Abdullah (whose father vowed to sacrifice him) and Ismail (AS).
Explanation
The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ was a descendant of Ismail (AS), connecting his lineage to the great sacrifice of Ibrahim and Ismail.
Submission to Allah's will is the highest act of faith. Ismail's willingness to be sacrificed shows complete trust in Allah.
- 1.What did Ismail say when his father told him about the dream?
- 2.What well gushed forth in Makkah?
- 3.What did Ibrahim and Ismail rebuild?
1. Did Ismail resist Allah's command?
2. Who struck the ground to bring forth Zamzam?
3. What was Ismail known for?
4. What does 'Zamzam' mean?
5. What well gushed forth for Ismail?
6. What did the Prophet ﷺ call himself regarding Ismail?
7. How did Allah communicate the command to Ibrahim?
8. Was Ismail patient?
9. Where was Ismail left as a baby?
10. Does Zamzam still flow today?
11. Who was Prophet Ismail's father?
12. What did Ibrahim and Ismail rebuild?
13. What test did Allah give Ibrahim regarding Ismail?
14. What did Allah say after the test?
15. Was Ismail the first to ride a horse?
16. Did Ibrahim love Ismail?
17. What did Ismail say when told about the sacrifice?
18. What did Hajar do searching for water?
19. Where is the Ka'bah?
20. Who was Ismail's mother?
21. What do we learn from Ismail?
22. What did Allah replace Ismail with?
23. What hills did Hajar run between?
24. Is running between Safa and Marwa part of Hajj?
25. Which holiday remembers this sacrifice?
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